Itasca's Role In Project

Village of Itaca Negotiation Goals
While the Elgin O'Hare is an Illinois Toll Authority Project, the Village of Itasca has negotiated with the Tollway to achieve the following goals:

Real Representation - The Village of Itasca, Hamilton Partners, and residents partnered together to ensure that the various preliminary plans for the project represented the values of the community. The Village and major property owners in Itasca have had significant influence in the design of the Elgin O’Hare. We’ve worked to protect residents’ interests and property values, as well as protect our own infrastructure, such as water and sewer utilities, to ensure Itasca taxpayers aren’t burdened with additional maintenance costs in the future.

Direct Access to Hamilton Lakes - Direct access to the Elgin O’Hare is critical to the vitality of Itasca. The existing and planned facilities in the Hamilton Lakes office park and other properties are essential to Itasca. The Village and Hamilton Partners have worked with the Tollway to provide access to Hamilton Lakes via a new street named Hamilton Lakes Drive, near the location of the existing Park Boulevard entrance. Construction of Hamilton Lakes Drive is now complete.

Access at Prospect Avenue - The Village of Itasca does not want to become a “drive-thru” community. Prospect Avenue is a vital corridor. An interchange will be constructed at Prospect Avenue. Construction of this interchange will begin in 2016.

Light Rail - The Village wishes to see public transit provided in the corridor. While not yet funded by the State, with encouragement from the Village of Itasca and others, the Tollway has provided enough right-of-way for future public transportation routes and stations. The Village also plans to install bike paths in the corridor as another transportation option.

Enhancing the Existing Economic Corridor - Maintaining and improving access to existing developments dependent on Thorndale Avenue traffic will enhance businesses and the Village of Itasca. Access to Hamilton Lakes and other properties is being maintained. The Village is looking for economic development opportunities in the Elgin O’Hare corridor, including on vacant parcels under both public and private ownership.

Access at Rohlwing Road - The Village of Itasca residents, businesses and industry depend on full-access at Rohwling Road. Itasca’s Central Manufacturing District (CMD) depends on this access for regional connectivity. The Village fought to preserve to and from Rohlwing Road. The Rohlwing Road bridge over IL Route 390 was constructed in 2014 and 2015, allowing traffic to move more freely on the Elgin O’Hare, reducing traffic congestion in the area.

Quality of Life / Environmental - Impacts on adjacent residential areas must be minimized. Emergency access, landscaping, noise walls, and sight screens are all design aspects that should mitigate anticipated adverse conditions. The Village has been successful in getting the Tollway to provide buffering between existing residential uses and the new tollroad, while balancing the needs of businesses. This includes encouraging the Tollway to install fencing and landscaping when areas don’t meet Tollway standards for a sound wall. Aesthetic improvements the Village has gotten through negotiation with the Tollway include stamped concrete and color selection on sound walls, decorative fencing and concrete on the Devon Avenue Bridge, the ability to install a gateway sign at Devon Avenue, more attractive bridge designs at Park Boulevard and Prospect Avenue, and powder coated traffic signals and fixtures throughout the corridor. The Village will also install bike paths in the corridor to connect the Hamilton Lakes area to other existing bike paths, including the Salt Creek Greenway Trail.